Barclays WSL: a record peak audience of 420,000 viewers for Liverpool - Chelsea on Sky in the UK

Liverpool FC - Chelsea FC (2-1), the opening match of the 2022-23 Barclays Women's Super League, posted a peak audience of 420,000 viewers on the pay-TV bouquet Sky Sports on Sunday 18/09/2022 (kick-off at 17:00 local time, 18:00 CET), an increase of 56% compared to the opening match of the 2021-22 season shown on Sky Sports, according to British media on 22/09/2022.

This is the best audience ever recorded for an English women's football league match broadcast on a UK pay-TV channel. The start of the Barclays Women's Super League was delayed by a week due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 08/09/2022.

The British pay-TV operator Sky, the main broadcaster of the Barclays Women's Super League, is broadcasting up to 44 matches per season (35 minimum) via its Sky Sports pay-TV package over the 2021-2024 cycle. Some matches are shown simultaneously on Sky Sports Mix and Sky One. The rights were acquired for just under £10m (€11.46m) per season, according to the specialised media. This figure rises to £15m (€17.19m) if production costs and additional marketing expenses are…